Every young footballer dreams of playing in the AFL, following in the footsteps of their idols as they run onto a floodlit MCG with the lights in their eyes and the roar of the crowd in their ears.

While that dream remains elusive to most, a lucky few are able to rise from the ranks of country football to join the elite of Australia’s national sport.

Among them is Millicent’s Mason Redman who, at just 18 years old, was selected by Essendon Football Club in the 2015 AFL draft.

While AFL selection was the realisation of a dream, his football journey started years before at the Millicent Football Club.

His talent was soon recognised as he progressed through the junior and senior ranks and he played his first senior game at just 15. He was then selected to join Glenelg’s South East talent squad and made the long haul to Adelaide to compete during 2013 and 2014.

While at Glenelg Redman played reserves and then two senior games for the Tigers where he caught the eye of national selectors and was snapped up in the AFL draft at pick number 30 by the Bombers.

It was a dream come true for the young lad from Millicent as he prepared to move interstate and start another chapter of his football career.

“I was quite emotional because it was the realisation of a dream,” Redman said.

“It was very cool to begin with and then within a pretty short period of time things started to progress.”

Just as Redman arrived, the dream threatened to become a nightmare as Essendon Football Club was rocked by the now infamous supplements saga, which left him pondering his future and his football.

“After the first month of me being there, the boys got banned in 2016,” he said.

“So, it was sort of fairly unknown about what was going to happen.

“It was a pretty weird experience to be a part of.

“You think you’re going into a club and that is going to be stable and then that happens.

“You lose 12 of your best teammates in the first month of being there so it was a little different than most people think rolling into a new club.”

It was a torturous time for the Essendon Football Club and having to restructure the team around fresh players coming in.

“They brought in eight or 10 people through the draft that year plus another 10 top up guys, so it was pretty fresh sort of at least,” he said.

“On the field, because of the situation, the results were more about just trying to get the most out of the year.

“It was about learning for the young blokes and the enjoyment factor as well.”

While the dust settled, Redman, who was “just ecstatic to be out there playing football”, tried to focus on his developing his game.

After hitting the track hard, he made his senior debut in round 7, 2016, against Sydney where he picked up 10 disposals, going on to play a further three games in that year.

2017 was not a great season for Redman who struggled with injury and was in and out of the side.

However, he remained focused on the task at hand and again in 2018 he played two games with a total of 41 possessions.

Come 2019, it was a different looking Redman who cemented his place in the starting line-up, playing a total of 20 games and it looked like things were on the rise for the talented defender, named the most improved player for the club.

Season 2020 brought all new challenges with COVID-19, but on the field, Redman played 13, setting himself up for a breakout season in 2021.

Missing just one game during a challenging season of football and doubling his disposal rate, Redman was also awarded the John Kilby Staff and Trainers award.

The hard running defender played every game in the 2022 season and was on song with 424 disposals, finding his place as a leader across the bomber defense line.

“At the start (of my career)I was working hard just to get myself in the side,” Redman said

“It was about being able to solidify myself in the team and now it is now just about, being the best teammate I can be and trying to do what ever I can so the team wins.

“That is where my sort of purpose and where my head is at the moment.

“Over the last year I feel like I have matured a lot as a footballer and figured out where my impact for the team lies.”

Going forward into season 2023 and now into his eighth year at the club Redman is focused on preparation and have the mental focus right.

“I’m working really hard in the off season … because I know if I can get myself on the park and on the training track consistently I can be an important player for the footy club,” he said.

“My goal going into each game is trying to be the most dependable team mate.

“It’s about team first and wanting to win.”